Chair



J. L. CABLE Mad; 6, 1934.

CHAIR 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Nov; 15, 1933 ,Twvewt'oa" Ju Li as L. Gabbe March 6, 1934. L BL 1,950,226

CHAIR Filed Nov. 15, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l'fivezzt'ow Jubius L. Cable n my; 5' Q Patented Mar. 6, 1934 UNITED STA Julius L. Cable, Boston; Mass. E Application November 15, 1933, Serial No. 698,028

s Claims. (01. 155-50) This invention relates to improvements in chairs. More especially it relates to chairs havin a frame made up primarily from metal.

So-called modernistic tubular steel chairs usually have a steel'rod or tube on each side at the front to form the legs. At the level of the seat these rods bend rearward to form si e'supports for the seat and then bend upward to form supports for the back. While this construction is slightly flexible, chairs so made can not properly be described as comfortable as there is no appreciable yield to the frame.

It is an object of the present invention to so bend and arrange a continuous tubular metal frame member as to produce'a chair which is notably yielding and really exceedingly'comfortable. It is a feature of the invention that it can be applied to chairs of various types, as for example a simple chair, anoflice chair which can rotate and tilt with respect to its base, a chair having a tilting back, a hospital or wheel chair, and so on. The same features of the yieldable frame can be incorporated in a chair in which the frame is for the most part fully exposed or they may be applied to chairs in which the frame is mostly concealed by upholstering.

V The best mode in-which I have contemplated applying the principles of my invention is'disclosed-in the accompanying drawings but these are to be taken as merely illustrative because it is intended that the patent shall cover by suitable expression in the appended claims whatever features of patentable novelty exist in the invention as a whole. i

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a side perspective showing a chair embodying the present invention;

Figure 2 is a front perspective of the same chair with parts cut away for disclosure of details; Figure 3 is a side view of the chair-of Figures 1 and 2;

Figure 51 is a similar view showing a slight modification; i

. Figure 5 is abottom perspective showing how the seat plate engages the frame members; Figure 6 is a side perspective of an office chair embodying thepresent invention;

Figure 7 is a vertical median section of the said ofiice chair;

Figure 8.is a side perspective of a chair embodying the presenttinvention and provided with an adjustable back; Q

Figure 9 is a vertical section, as on line 99 of Figure 10', through the arm of the chair of 55 Figure 8; and

Figure 10 is a side elevation in vertical section on line 10 0 of Figure 9.. -Referring now more particularly to the drawings, and especially to Figures 1 to 3, the important features of my present invention can best be appreciated by considering the vertical side view of the chair shown in Figure 3. As here ,shown, each side member Act the frame is composed of a single continuous spring-steel rod. Starting from the bottom or rear end of this rod it has a short vertical section 10, constituting a rear leg as itwere, then-a horizontal section 12 which curves into a front vertical section 14. The upper portion 14a of thisfront vertical section then inclines toward the rear until it reaches the proper level for a sitters arm, where it bendsinto a horizontal section 16 upon'which a padded or upholstered arm rest B may be secured. The rod then bends sharply upward and extends as a rearwardly inclined section ,18 to the level of the top of the back. There the rod has a return bend 20 and this is followed by a section 22 extending downward and somewhat forward to somewhat below the level .of the horizontal arm section 16,.

where the rod is preferably inclined more toward the front as at 22a. The rod then curves into the final horizontal section 24 which extends forward to close by the vertical front section 14'.

These side frame members A may be secured together in numerous ways. In the'chair of Fig- 8b ures 1 to 3 inclusive I provide a front support consisting of a rod C bent as an inverted U, with its depending legs 0 attached to a portion of each vertical front ection 14 of the side frame members. members constitute the front feet of the chair. The rearmost inclined upper sections 22 of the side frame members may be secured together by a metal plate D which can either be permanently attached thereto as by welding or removably attached by? bolts or suitable screws. 'A similar metal plate E joins the final horizontal sections 24 of the side frame members, either permanently or removably.

The side frame member shown in Figure 4 is not materially different from -that just described. The only difference is that the horizontal arm rest section 16 is continued farther to the rear before curving into an upwardly inclined section 18', and the return bend 20' at the topof the back is forward instead of rearward so that downwardly extending section 22' is at the front. The back plate D is attached to these front sections 22'- instead of the rearmost pair as in Figure 3.

The chair of Figures 1 to 1 is shown with back 1.10

These depending legs of the U-shaped cushions F and seat cushions G mounted on the back and seat plates respectively, in the manner disclosed in my Patent No. 1,860,381 granted to me on May 31, 1932 for improvements in upholstered chairs, but this is merely representative as the chair can have any form or style of cushions or upholstering or none at all if that be preferred.

When a person sits in the chair his weight is primarily imposed on the seat and thus on the horizontal sections 24 ofthe side frames. The imposition of this weight causes these final horizontal seat sections to move downward. There is, of course, amarked tendency to bend or swing these seat members and this tendency is transmitted to the most rearwardvertically inclined sections 22 of Figure 3 (or the front vertically inclined sections 22' of Figure 4) and these latter sections swing backward to some extent. But these sections in turn transmit the load by way of the return bend to the other vertically inclined sections 18 (18') extending from the return bend to the horizontal arm sections 16 (16). These last mentioned vertically inclined sections also bend rearward slightly and. the arm sections in turn are tilted slightly downward. The final yield of the side frame members is experienced in the inclined portion 14a of the front vertical sections 14.

Since the side frame members are made of spring steel or the like, the resistance offered by each successive section and bend of the frame,

from the final horizontal side sections to the front vertical sections, counterbalances the weight of the sitter and he finds himself .fioating", as it were, on the chair. fortable state with no jar or sudden stoppage, but with a most pleasant sort of resilient resistance.

- The slightest change in his weight, as by press- '7. In this arrangement the initial horizontal sections 12a of the side frame members are attached to a plate member H suitably mounted on a supporting base, generally designated by the reference letter I, which permits the seat and back to rotate and also tilt or swing backward and forward as is customary in ofiice chairs. From each initial horizontal section 12a attached to the plate member H the side frame member is identical with that previously described in connection with Figures 1 to 3, and the back and seat plates, with cushions, are similarly provided.

In the chair of Figures 8 to 10, there is a slight modification in the side frame members to permit relative adjustment of the back of the chair.

As here shown the initial horizontal section 12, the vertical front section 14 and the arm section 16 are as shown in the chair of Figures 1 to 3. But instead of the side frame members bending upward at the rear of the arm sections they turn vertically downward into a vertically inclined section 22" and then curve into the final horizontal sections 24 to which the seat plate He arrives at this most com-,

finally bend into the horizontal seat sections. Part way up each leg 1 of the back frame member is a pivotally attached link K which extends into the arm rest B. Inside this rest is opposed channel plates L provided with ratchet teeth 1 adapted to be engaged by a pin it carried by the link. By these means, the back can be tilted with respect to the seat at any desired angle.

The chair disclosed in Figures 8 to 10 is particularly adapted for use in beauty parlors, barber shops, dentists ofiices, and the like, where the sitter may desirably be placed in a semi-prone position. But the chair is equally usable in the home where an adjustable inclination of the chair back is preferred. While the buoyant-like effect of the chair frame shown in Figures 1 to 7 inclusive, is not experienced to the same extent with the modified form of frame shown in Figures 8 to 10, it is nevertheless quite appreciable to the sitter, and it can be substantially realized in full by making the frame members of the chairs of Figures 8 to 10 of somewhat lighter and more resilient material.

It is to be understood that the so-called tubular frame member may be made from solid rod stock, or tube stock, or stock of various shapes in cross section, provided that when bent or shaped in accordance with the principles of this invention the final effect is one of resilient resistance.

I claim: I

1. In a. chair structure, a continuous flexible side frame member providing in sequence a vertical section, a horizontal arm section, a connecting section having a portion extending below said horizontal arm section, and a horizontal seat section extending from said portion parallel to and below said horizontal arm section; the said sections being so disposed that weight imposed upon the seat section is transmitted solely through the member to the said vertical section.

2. In a chair structure, a continuous flexible side frame member providing in sequence a vertical section, a horizontal arm section, an upwardly inclined section, a return bend at the top of the last said section, a downwardly inclined section, and a horizontal seat section.

3. In a chair structure, a pair of continuous flexible side frame members, each providing in sequence a horizontal section, a vertical section, an intermediate horizontal section, a connecting section having a portion extending below said intermediate section, and .a final horizontal section extending from said portion; another frame member joining the said vertical sections; and a seat member joining the said final horizontal sections.

4. In a chair structure, a pair of continuous flexible side frame members each providing in sequence a vertical front section, a horizontal arm section, a vertically inclined section terminating in a return bend, another vertically inclined section and a final horizontal section; a seat member, joining the said final horizontal sections; a back member joining one pair of the vertically inclined sections; and means for supporting the side frame members in upright positions. I

5. A chair comprising a base; a supporting seat member joining said final horizontal sections; and aback member joining a pair of said vertically inclined sections.-

6. In a chair structure, a pair of continuous flexible side frame members each providing in sequence a vertical section,-an arm section, a connecting section having a portion extending below said arni section, .and a final section extending from said portion toward the said vertical section; a seat member joining the said final sections; a back member pivotally mounted on the said side frame members; means for securing said back member in adjusted position; and means supporting the side frame members in upright position.

7. A chair comprising a side frame member formed from apiece of tubular stock which provides in sequence a vertical section; means supporting the vertical section at its lower end; an

arm section extending substantially horizontally from theupper end of said vertical section; and a third section extending from the end of said arm section and terminating close by but separated from said vertical section, with a portion of the said third section parallel to and below the level of said am section and adapted to support a seat; the said sections being so disposed that weight imposed upon the said .portion is transmitted through the said-sections successively to the vertical section.

8. A chair comprising a side frame member formed from a continuous piece of tubular stock which provides in sequence a vertical section; means, supporting the vertical section at its lower end; an arm section extending from said first section; and a third section extending from said arm section with a portion extending parallel to the arm section and below the level thereof toward the first said section and terminating short-thereof; the entire. side frame member being so disposed that weight imposed upon the last said section is transmitted solely through the arm section to the first said section. I

JULIUS L. 1 CABLE. 

